FC United of Manchester
FC United of Manchester
FC United of Manchester

Women complete double over Chorltonians

After a midweek battling display to prevail over Chorltonians at their West Didsbury & Chorlton FC base, Easter Sunday’s reverse fixture at Broadhurst Park proved a much more convincing encounter as the rampant reds ran out 8-0 victors under persistent April showers in front of 80 plus hardy supporters.

After a midweek battling display to prevail over Chorltonians at their West Didsbury & Chorlton FC base, Easter Sunday’s reverse fixture at Broadhurst Park proved a much more convincing encounter as the rampant reds ran out 8-0 victors under persistent April showers in front of 80 plus hardy supporters.

Four goals each for Jade Parker and Jess Battle sum up the scoring, the first double four in a game for 25 months when Feiruz Abdullahi and Shellby Wolstencroft did the same to Heyside Angels at Abraham Moss, but tell only part of the story; as a complete all round team performance was extremely positive in light of two looming cup finals.

FC kicked off as both sides compressed play in the opening couple of minutes with United enjoying the better possession. Latching onto a through ball, Parker slipped past her defender taking the ball to the bye line and towards goal squeezing the ball across Natalie Callaghan in the visitor’s goal and in at the far post from a tight angle to open the scoring on 3 minutes.

Barely a minute later and United had doubled their lead as Allisha Marsh, probing down the left, found Jess Battle in the area; the striker’s control instant and finish calm and collected as she slotted the ball beyond Callaghan to double the lead.

The game, now very open, saw Chorltonians respond well; earning a couple of corners in the process with Elizabeth Livesey forcing a good save out of Amy Gillingham. United doing similar saw Marsh and Jess McCarrick go close.

Chelsea Patient headed a free kick that was launched into the United area by Ellie Caddick with Jade Boulton helping the ball onto Adora Yau in turn releasing Parker down the left. Parker’s injection of pace took her beyond the full back and with the keeper to beat, finished superbly for her second and FC’s third on 18 minutes.

The half reached its mid-point and again good work down the left by Parker crossing low for Battle who played the ball across her defender firing into the roof of the net from 10 yards for her second and United’s fourth.

Yau lofted a clever ball out of defence picked up by Battle on half way, the striker turning, feeding Parker who returned the favour as Battle outstripped the defence slotting the ball into the bottom corner to complete her first half hatrick. Chloe Wild crossed for Battle to hit the post with Wild herself, McCarrick and Battle once more all going close before the half was over.

The second half began as an almost carbon copy of the first with United adding two further goals in the opening five minutes but it could have been more as Wild delivered superbly from the right for Parker to fire over at the near post in the half’s opening minute.

On 48 minutes, Parker did indeed complete her hatrick as Olivia Greenhalgh played the ball to Battle who turned provider releasing Parker to cut in from the right travelling unopposed towards goal and dinking the ball beyond Callaghan to match Battle’s hatrick.

Battle took the lead in the goal scoring duel just two minutes later after a positive burst forward by Marsh whose cross found Battle unmarked beyond the far post to fire home for goal number seven.

Jordanna Shaw fired a pot shot at FC’s goal with her fizzing effort being well held by Gillingham. FC’s keeper cleared long, Battle controlling the dropping ball superbly turning and playing in Parker who lobbed over the advancing Callaghan to level with Battle on four goals and scoring United’s eighth to cap a superb all round performance.

Although no further goals were added in the final 35 minutes, the job was done and credit goes to good keeping and dogged determination from Chorltonians; limiting clear cut chances for United despite overwhelming dominance of possession by the reds.
Next Sunday, United entertain Curzon Ashton in their final home game of the season and it would be great to see a three figure crowd at Broadhurst Park to reward the team for an excellent campaign, whatever the final outcome. Many thanks.

Report by Rob Fullen

FC Player of the game: Adora Yau – playing her first 90 minutes since the away tie at Egerton on 30th October 2016, Adora being player of the game that day also. Her display and reading of the game against Chorltonians, playing on the left side of a back three, was superb all afternoon. Special mention also to Jade Parker and Jess Battle for their combined 8 goal salvo.

Teams 16th April 2017: Attendance: 81 (2,231 in total for the season so far)